Edinburgh: A volunteer group of young Scots have won a Philip Lawrence Award for Community Safety, in the national scheme funded by the Home Office for citizenship and outstanding achievement in the local community. They were the only Scottish group to reach the final. The award includes a prize of £1000.

The news was announced today, 7 December 2004, at a ceremony in London attended by Fiona Mactaggart MP, the Home Office Minister responsible for race equality, active communities and civil renewal, Sir Trevor McDonald OBE, Philip Lawrence’s wife, Frances and the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Lesley Hinds.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth volunteer group from LGBT Youth Scotland was short-listed for their work in educating young people and the wider community about LGBT issues, to reduce homophobia and bullying.

Jamie Rennie, Chief Executive of LGBT Youth Scotland, said “We are proud and delighted that these young people have won this award. They deserve it. As well as organising peer education and training events, they ran a conference to raise awareness of LGBT issues including homophobic bullying, identity, self harm, suicide, substance abuse and sexual health. The event was open to all young people in Edinburgh aged 13-25. Feedback was very positive.”

The Philip Lawrence Awards recognise and reward the efforts and initiative of young people who have overcome social problems and made valuable contributions to their communities. They are open to young people aged 11-20 years old across the UK. Philip Lawrence was the head teacher killed in 1995 when he intervened to protect a pupil outside his school from attack by a gang of young people. The Awards were set up in 1996 by then Home Secretary Michael Howard in response to the murder of Philip Lawrence and to deal with a number of social problems affecting local communities.